, 1887-07-23

inconsistency in the Draft. In the original
Draft 1t was said that no planter could be
corpse inspector on his own estate, and now
IN the Committee Report it is stated that
planters shall be bound to act as such on
their W estates. How was that brought
about?
The Governor thought that the honorable
last Speaker was laboring under o wrong
impression. Managers were only bound to
act as corpse inspectors on their own estates.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District tSUitger) thought that, looking away
from the fact that it would be a great burden
on the planters to act as corpse. inspectors,
it would be a very unpleasant daty to per-
form. 1t is well known that everybody
cannot see corpses; he for his part could not,
whenever he saw a corpse he could neither
eat nor sleep for some time.
Ord Member for Christiansted's Country
District Lee0y) would ask if the permission
given to put a substitute was only valid for
each individual case or if once given extend
ed for a longer period?
The Governor stated shat the Draft as it
now stood embodied only general principles,
whereas the detailed rules would subsequent.
ly be laid Town for the guidance of parties.
Bird Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (Hetoitt meant that if it were not
compulsory to act as corpse inspector in
Denmark, it was quite unfair that it should
be so here. 1t should in fact be a voluntary
affair. Or let the Government appoint the
inspectors and pay them. 1t was rather
much to expect that the planters would will,
ingly accept an additional burden. If it
were so easy for planters to put a substitute
then surely it must be easier for the Govern,
ment to find such. He saw no necessity Of
corpse-inspection, except in cases of sudden
death or murder &c. when a coroner's inquest
should be held and even that could not be
done unless in the presence of a physician
who could guide the parties in their verdict.
What did the planters know about inspecting
corpses? Furthermore, if the parties had,
during their sickness been attended By a ply.
slclan, he failed to see the necessity of an
inspection after death.
The Governor stated that the reason why
the Government could not appoint and pay
the corpse-inspectors was that there was no
possibility Of the Colonial Treasury defraying
the expense. 1t would therefore neceSsitate
q new tax. In order however not to tax the
community further, matters had been arrang-
ed as they are proposed now. 1t would have
been the best if all inspection OF corpses could
be undertaken by the physicians or to have
had paid inspectors for the different districts,
Z "1ShJ oS Il INV pLOpOSGU blC 4ISpCSbiOu
is limited to one estate there must surely be
one there who can read and write, and it is to
be supposed that managers or owners would
be interested in knowing the number of deaths
occurring on their estates. The. present
arrangement was in accordance with the views
expressed by representatives of the planters.
The principle Of corpse inspection had been
accepted as correct in all civilized countries.
In cases of suspicious deaths, it was almost
impossible, as things now are, to investigate
the matter, as corpses are often buried before
the report o fdeath is made. He thought it a
shame if matters continued much longer as
they are.
3rd Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (HewitO, thought it reflected very
badly on the Government, after the large
amounts of money that are yearly spent on
the Educational Department, that the Co
eminent was not able to find q sufficient
number of men in the country districts capa-
BILE of reading and writing, but was obliged
in default of that to throw the burden of
inspection on the planters.
The Governor said hat there would be a
policeman to take part in the inspection.
As the Draft was originally proposed it was
compulsory on everybody. 1t could not be
made easier for the planters, who, must ne
c~essarily be the ones upon whom the COM
p%ulsion must rest. 1t was necessary to
obviate expenses, especially where travelling
expenses had to be betrayed. It could hard